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Claim Your Citizens Rebate

Time is running out for Louisiana property insurance policyholders who would like to claim their 2012 Citizens Assessment rebate. The deadline is December 31, 2016 and more than $35 million of the refundable assessments available for 2012 remains unclaimed.

There are three ways to claim the rebate:

Claim the rebate as a tax credit. Your income tax return would include your rebate in the total tax calculation.

Claim the rebate by filling out a paper form. Complete a one-page form and send in your insurance declaration page to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

The Citizens assessment is part of your property insurance bill each year. It is payment for bonds issued by Citizens to cover damages caused by Katrina and 72 percent of the amount you paid in 2012-2015 is refundable. For more information, please visit www.ldi.la.gov/citizensrebate.

Open Enrollment: Deadlines Fast Approaching

Open enrollment is taking place right now – both for Medicare and for regular health insurance. But the deadlines to sign up are fast approaching.

Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7, 2016. If you’re still trying to narrow down your options, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) staff can help. Our counselors can talk to you about your options, including what Medicare
Advantage Plans are available in your parish. Call 1-800-259-5300 with your questions.

For those not on Medicare, there’s still time to sign up for health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you choose a plan before December 15, 2016, your health coverage will begin January 1. One thing to keep in mind when choosing a plan is to review your plan’s health care network. For more tips, please visit our website. Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends January 31, 2017.

Wiping Out Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the United States is seeing the biggest rise in fatal traffic accidents in 50 years. And AAA reports that 42 percent of drivers admit to reading a text message or email while driving in the last 30 days. The Office of Consumer Advocacy urges you to take steps to curb distracted driving this holiday season. You can make your drive safer by not taking calls or texting while behind the wheel and reminding family and friends about the dangers of distracted driving. Click here to learn more about Louisiana laws that address cell phone use.